Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-04-27
Especial Correspondence.l

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avigation-Keminders Of Early Days.
Especial Correspondence
EUGENE CITY, Ore, April 10.
write you from the heart, the good, green
heart, Of the greenest, the freshest and the
fairest of all fair lands ON this earth. This
is the place where the three rivers meet that
make up the great Willamette valley Of
Oregon.
These three rivers that run and leap and
clash together here are the clearest and the
coolest in the world. They come dashing right
down from the snow peaks and through the
densest and darkest fir forests in the world
The long, large and abundant mountain trout
that crowd these cold, clear waters are as
hard as ice and as sweet as nuts. How these
tumbling waters howl as they rush out and
leap down the mountain sleeps and join their
forces in the valley for their stately march
together for the sea-! They seem to rush out
and on as if differed. They have seen the
grizzly bear by the way. They have heard
the roar of the mountain lion. The scream
OF the panther is only pistol shot in the
rear. And so clear, SO cold and SO pure are
these waters that you can hear them clash and
crash and rattle as they run together.
This is the head of steamboat navigation.
But now this is of but little importance, for
railroads cross and interlock and gridiron the
whole great valley now; and little towns. like
flower beds, blossom all up and down the
land.
And now I must enter into prosaic detail
and tell you of the price of land and the cost
of homes here in this center of this emerald
world. For this was long a world entirely
apart by itself. The railroads have not changed
locfiu ri
as fresh and cold and clear, the forests as
deep and black and impenetrable, the fash
ing snow peaks that tower over all remain
the same. The land is only more accessible,
that is all.
But do not fancy that Oregon is all forest
1.-THE continuous woods" that Bryant cele-
brated in song are surely here; but they stop
suddenly and abruptly right on the edge Of
the vast level valleys; as suddenly as II
they had been hewn down on a measured line
with the az. / remember once, when was
hired out by the day to drive oxen for
neighbours pillow, as we drew our furrow in
the virgin valley toward the black and abrupt
edge of the forest, we saw two bears peering
at u.s. as they sat OIL their launches from out
the steep woods. And they held the fort
The forest was theirs. We kept in the open
valley among the water lilies, wild flowers
and vast blue sea Of wild hyacinth. This lat
ter flower is called camas here. From time
immemoral its root has served as the chiefest
diet for the Indians; and the time has been
when the whites were compelled to live on it.
And, oh, those early days i'll Oregon!
They were not all rosy or restful days at all.
Nearly forty years ago my father drove his
two yoke Of oxen up this vast blue Camas val
ley to this spot after the long seven months
journey over the plains of dust, desolation,
death. Only these four oxen and one creaky
old wagon left out Of three strong wagons
and three long and strong lines of oxenl II
the world but knew what these early "a
theirs endured!
And the first thing we did was to help
build school house. Bear in mind. this is
the history Of Oregon. These men could wor-
ship under the trees, but their children must
have house to 60 to school in.
This is the history of nearly every settle
ment in this broad and fertile state. OF
course services were always held on Sundays
in the school houses, but they were small; and
SO whenever the crowd was large the long
haired and travel worn preacher adjourned
the meeting to the edge Of the forest or the
nearest grove. Many Of these old school
houses are still standing along the edges of
out from the steep and wooded foot hills
But they are mute. mossgrown and tenant
less now. For here in this city great uni
versity has long been established, and the oc-
cupation OF the country school master as a
rule is gone.
And while on this subject Of schools and
school teachers, let me say one or two words
about myself Since SO many columns,
might almost say volumes, have been written
about my inspiration" and ignorance of
books, by those who knew little or nothing of
the subject, it might be well, once for all,
while l am here on the spot, to tell a few
simple facts:
My father was school teacher; my broth
ers were all school teachers; l also taught
school. So must have known at least some
thing about books Indeed, my father was
very learned man--a very humble and unpre-
tending man, but man persistent i'm study.
And think he was the gentlest gentleman
ever born. He never in his life raised either
hand or voice in anger. When tell you that
for nearly sixty years he lived in the heart of
the wilderness, among wild beasts and still
wilder men, yet never fired a gun or even
knew how to load gun, you can get some
idea of the beautiful character of this patient
and gentle schoolmaster, my father. who
sleeps down yonder under the valley oaks Of
Oregon, by the cool, swift waters Of the VIII
lamette.
Twas put to school here at once, before the
school house yet had windows or an entire
floor. / soon had a chum, a black haired.
handsome and brilliant boy of about nv own
age. His father was rich, and this had spoiled
him sadly. But to me he was all idol. I was
dull, tow headed. not at all a favorite with
any one, very sensitive and very sad And so.
as this boy was kind to me, adored and fol.
lowed him in all things He had stepmother,
got mad and proposed that we should run
away to California. We set out on foot
through the mountain trails, and Travelled
night and day. We met a bear in the path at
dusk one dreary, rainy evening, and barely
escaped up tree, where we sat and shiyered
till morning. The next day we met gentle
man on horseback and asked him for money:
for we were hungry and destitute. This man
gave us piece of gold and his name and ad
dress. 1t was more than ten years after that
was enabled to lay before the eyes of this
great and coed man, who so generously gave
his gold to two boy tramps, any At reward,
He took my present and murmured, "Bread
on the waters" He was glad, not tor the
worth Of it. think, but to find his faith in
man not betrayed. This was Hon. M p
Deadly, known throughout the Union now as